Japan to pursue active diplomacy in 'new era' of int'l cooperation+

TOKYO, Jan. 29 Kyodo -
Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada said Friday that Japan will pursue ''active''
and ''dynamic'' diplomacy with the arrival of what he calls a new era of
international cooperation while enhancing ties with Asia-Pacific countries and
taking the lead on global issues such as nuclear disarmament.

On relations with the United States, which have been strained due to a row over
a U.S. base in Okinawa, Okada said in a foreign policy address to parliament
that the bilateral alliance remains the linchpin of Japan's foreign policy and
vowed to promote understanding among the people of the importance of stationing
U.S. forces in Japan as a deterrent.
Japan also wants to promote regional cooperation under the long-term vision of
creating an ''East Asian community'' but at the same time expects China to act
responsibly in the international community and will continue to cooperate
closely with countries concerned to denuclearize North Korea, Okada said.
With U.S. President Barack Obama providing a cue, the international community
is seeing the arrival of a ''new era of cooperation,'' Okada said, indicating
that he feels a unipolar world led by the United States has come to an end.
''Japan is called on to act proactively and to present initiatives, and thereby
to respond to international expectations,'' he said while noting the need to
promote ''dynamic diplomacy'' built upon public confidence in the wake of
Japan's historic change of government in September.
As part of efforts to win public confidence, Okada said he wants to announce at
the earliest possible date the outcome of an investigation into alleged
decades-old secret pacts between Japan and the United States on nuclear arms
and other issues. Previous Japanese governments consistently denied the
existence of any such deals.
Okada's speech at the Diet came at a time when Japan-U.S. ties have soured over
the issue of where to relocate the U.S. Marine Corps' Futemma Air Station in
the southernmost prefecture of Okinawa.
Okada reiterated the government's policy of deciding on the relocation site by
the end of May by considering the importance of a 2006 Japan-U.S. accord, the
role of U.S. bases and the need to reduce the burden on Okinawa, which hosts
the bulk of U.S. forces in Japan.
Washington has been pressing Tokyo to stick to the bilateral deal, under which
the heliport functions of the Futemma facility would be moved to a less densely
populated area in Okinawa. But the new government led by the Democratic Party
of Japan is exploring the possibility of finding a new relocation site.
As the year 2010 marks the 50th anniversary of the current security treaty
between the two countries, Okada said he wants to reaffirm with the United
States the role the Japan-U.S. alliance will play over the decades ahead to
ensure national security and regional peace.
''In this context, I will explain candidly to Japanese people that the presence
of the U.S. forces in Japan plays an important role as deterrence ensuring
Japan's safety, in an effort to deepen the understanding of Japanese people on
this matter,'' Okada said.
Okada also expressed his intention to work on issues related to the bilateral
Status of Forces Agreement, which governs the operations of the U.S. military
in Japan, and expenses for the forces, but did not elaborate.
As for China, Okada showed eagerness to address bilateral concerns such as a
dispute over gas field development in the East China Sea and the safety of food
imported from China.
But he added, ''We expect China, with its growing international status, to play
a responsible role in the region and in the international community with
improved transparency.''
On North Korea, Okada pointed to the need to resume the six-party
denuclearization talks at an early date and at the same time noted that Japan
will continue to ''steadily implement'' U.N. Security Council resolutions aimed
at punishing Pyongyang for its nuclear and missile tests.
With Japan holding the rotating chairmanship of the Asia-Pacific Economic
Cooperation forum this year, Okada said he is eager to ''take the lead in
formulating ideas to make APEC better attuned to the new era'' so as to further
regional prosperity.
Okada also said Japan will try to ''strengthen a dialogue'' with Myanmar, where
pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi remains detained, and cooperate with
other countries to seek a diplomatic solution to Iran's nuclear program.
Referring to global issues, Okada emphasized the need for Japan to play a
''meaningful role'' amid the growing momentum toward nuclear disarmament. He
added he would like to discuss how to take concrete steps to realize a world
without nuclear weapons with Australia, the United States and other countries.
Okada also said Japan should take a leading role in climate change negotiations
and further consider how it can contribute more actively to U.N. peacekeeping
activities, in addition to Japan's already-announced readiness to participate
in operations in quake-devastated Haiti.
==Kyodo
2010-01-29 23:35:16


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